LOUISVILLE, Ky. –University of Central Oklahoma pitcher Bailey McKittrick was named the 2019 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year. She was presented the award on Wednesday evening at the NCAA Division II Championship banquet in Denver, Colo.
McKittrick, a Second-Team NFCA All-American keyed the No. 1- ranked Bronchos to Mid-American Athletic Association (MIAA) regular season and tournament titles, a No. 1 overall seed in the Central Region and an appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals. The rookie hurler was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Year after sporting a 26-5 record with a 2.11 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 179.1 innings of work. A native of Moore, Okla., McKittrick recorded three shutouts, 17 complete games, one save and held her opponents to a .238 batting average.
The other seven finalists for the award were – Hannah Rose Corbin (Columbus State), Erin DelPierre (Bloomsburg), Khmari Edwards (Cameron), Lydia Goble (Grand Valley State), Teala Howard (West Florida), Brylynn Vallejos (San Francisco State) and Emily Whitman (Adelphi).
The award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievement among freshmen softball student-athletes throughout Division II.
Previous Winners
2018 – Callie Nunes, Concordia University Irvine
2017- Autumn Humes, Harding University
2016 – Charlotte Romero, Colorado Christian University
2015 – Janessa Bassett, Dixie State University